Thursday, August 23, 2012

Many of us have been told today that the extraordinarily long doping saga of Lance Armstrong has just come to an end. That he has given up the fight before the fight is over. I have been vehemently opposed to this idea of fairy tale story right after I started sniffing the dirt under the proverbial rock. The writing was clear on the wall many times along and I blogged a few posts here for which I received nothing but hatemail and negative comments. It feels a little good to know that all the extra time to pour into months worth of news articles and research has actually been worthwhile. On the other hand, its a sad day for cycling. Maybe even a sad day for honest and ethical entrepreneurship.

A few hours, maybe even days ago, Lance Armstrong, apparently a doer of public good and an all-American sports hero, was legally on the ropes. He was cornered and had just a few tiny bites on the apple left. For years he had invested so much in legal maneuvering that to me, it came out more like he had dirty secrets to hide. Ultimately, I, like other people in the media had tried him in my own mind and convicted him as a fraud given the data I was supplied, as much as those who didn't know any of the facts behind this decade old case will have declared him a legitimate sporting hero. But to each his own. Ultimately, there is a point beyond which you should never take your position on any argument to martyrdom. Its not so healthy is it?

One wonders what he will tell his family, friends. What his kids will think of him? Or those millions of people who have converged their hopes on his Foundation to fight a killer epidemic. Feelings may not be easy to describe right now.

Like some have reminded me, maybe we can never rewrite history. What has happened, including all those 7 wins, can never change. But Lance was that one leaf from a dirty era of cycling that reminded us of a win-at-all costs approach to sports. To renew this tree, that leaf needs to fall, the tree could be cut down and finished off with a cleansing fire. Plenty of other seeds are being sown on the ground that will form the future of American cycling.

The last thing he could do before he leaves would be to be honest to the world and say "Sorry". Everyone, including both his fans and his detractors, need an apology. The same follows for all the others who followed suit on his command and resorted to cheating.

20 comments:

The remark that he passed hundreds of doping tests with "flying colors" as referenced on AP is nothing but an extraordinarily lie. He's said this again and again so many times and people have run away with it to create their own fairtale of the reality.

The fact of the matter is that neither did he pass all the tests and neither was he tested 500 or 600 times as he claims.

This post by Race Radio points clearly to the datahttp://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=17704

Yes, a "Field full of dopers" was his competition, it's true...except for the ones who were caught and disgraced, their lives ruined, while Lance sat self-righteously on his throne of lies and made millions. And yes, history can't be rewritten. And that is really a shame.

"Greg Lemond.....The only American winner of the Tour de France". Oh, I do like the sound of that after the manipulations of Armstrong and the venality of Trek. Trek went so low as to remove all existence of the Lemond brand from their website, so that I have to look elsewhere for specs to my 2006 Croix de Fer. No other maker does that. Sorry Gary Fisher, I won't buy a bike from you either, as you are a Trek division.

I'm not about to throw-away my Oakleys, since Rudy Project are hardly that much better, but it would be nice to see Greg relaunch his brand with a line of road bikes. Seems that ship has set sail, though (and hit a mine/been torpedoed by a U-Boat, and sunk).

Cycling... I used to be into Sumo when I was in Japan (and that's been exposed for match-fixing)... I'm done with all pro-sports. I do my own stuff, and never go to watch sports, nor watch it on TV. Don't even get me started on the five-ring circus (Olympics). I suggest everyone else should do the same, or accept doping, fixing, and pay-offs to judges (hello skating, gymnastics, judo...). Too much money is involved.

Bruyneel has some more time to go to arbitration or quit the case like Armstrong. What he does will be really telling. I can't imagine the closed doors phone conversations these two charlatans might be having right now.

Why is no one addressing the surprising possibility that UCI will dismiss USADA's title stealing sanctions? While I'm not a fanboy, its alarming that two sanctioning bodies can't come to a proper decision on whose jurisdiction is valid in this case. Pathetic.

" @irnldy that Lance withdrew from the " Spat " with USADA shows courage ! He is thinking of those who work with " LiveSTRONG Foundation " by setting aside his personal feelings ! Thanks to those like " Team Fatty " by October 2012 over $US500M will have been raised for the Foundation to help " Those in need "! Try and find any other foundation that has achieved so much in such a short time ?As to Cycling's colourful history , and particularly the TDF , you will have to go through the first 20 of each year's edition to find those who have not been found wanting by those with a " Tall Poppy knocking attitude "! Bjarne Riis stuck his head above the parapet and was told he was no longer going to be recognized by ASO as a Winner , that did not last long , could it be that his Team mate , who COULD replace Lance on 3 podiums , was considered less desirable ?

LiveSTRONG will continue to grow because it is populated by " motivated and dedicated people "! Lance will be remembered for many things including " Inspiring People " !

As an Aussie i have to remind you all that Alan Bond successfully took the America's Cup to Perth and before long there were those who found a way to send him to Prison for careless business practices . Now that he has fought back and brought a little stability to his life once again , he has lost his Wife in a Drowning incident .

Lance also will emerge from the current quandary and no doubt his family will enjoy many years of being recognised as " role models " by those benefiting from the " LiveSTRONG Foundation !

WHEN the going gets tough , the Tough get going ! Lance will look back at this week's decision and know he was right to draw the line at this time !

So there are those who spent years hoping that a " Tall Poppy " would be cut down , hey you , what is going to be your next target ?

Sad to say that Lance being removed means that someone moves up AND are they any better than he ?

Until an " Amnesty " is called in ALL SPORTS , so that those with a history can declare themselves , Sport will be a quagmire and ALL results will be picked over by naysayers !

An Amnesty with NO PENALTY , if complied with by due date , BUT with " Life TIME Bans " for the Athlete and their retinue of helpers , if they choose not to reveal their transgressions and are subsequently found out by whistleblowers .

Thanks for a great post (and website). Having seen Greg LeMond's performance up close in both the 85 and 86 tours and knowing what he had to go through in the last ten years just pains me to no end. I think he showed a lot of courage (as well as the Andreus and others involved in this sad affair). I get some satisfaction knowing he's again the only American to win the Tour and that Bernard Hinualt's results in the Tour are not eclipsed anymore as well.